Summary: A message perfect for Mother’s day to encourage women with the seven godly characteristics of purity, trustworthiness, committment, diligence, optimism, compassion, and dignity.

SUCCESS - HOW DO WE REALLY DEFINE IT TODAY? THE WORLD HAS ESTABLISHED VARIOUS METHODS FOR US SO THAT WE CAN "CHART" OR KEEP TRACK OF OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

SOME OF THOSE METHODS THE WORLD GIVES US TO USE TO CHART OUR PROGRESS ARE THE JOB’S INCOME, PRESTIGE OF THE POSITION, RETIREMENT PLAN, HEALTH BENEFITS AND THE ROOM IT PROVIDES FOR ADVANCEMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A JOB THAT THE WORLD HAS LEFT OUT OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS. ODD, CONSIDERING IT IS THE MOST REWARDING AND PRESTIGIOUS JOB OF ALL.

HOW COULD THEY OVERLOOK SUCH A JOB? THE REASON THE WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE JOB I’M TALKING ABOUT DOESN’T PAY A SINGLE PENNY IN WAGES, NOR IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF GETTING A PROMOTION, EARNING A RAISE OR A CHANCE AT WINNING EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

I AM TALKING ABOUT BEING A GODLY MOTHER! NOT A WORLDLY MOTHER! NOT A MARTHA STEWART KIND OF MOTHER! NOT A LIVE IN PARTNER WHO BARES OFFSPRING FOR THEIR LOVER.

THE MOTHER I’M TALKING ABOUT IS ONE WHO FEARS AND OBEYS GOD! A MOTHER WHO LOVES THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, SEEKS AFTER HIM DAILY, PROFESSES JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR AND THEN MODELS ALL OF THESE THINGS FOR HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A HOME INSTEAD OF A HOUSE.

THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS IS A MODEL OF SUCH A GODLY MOTHER. IF IT IS YOUR DESIRE TO BE A MOTHER OF INFLUENCE THAT LEADS YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR CHILDREN IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD, THEN CONSIDER THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROVERB MOTHER!

THE FIRST CHARACTERISTIC IS PURITY. VERSE 10, SAYS THAT THIS WOMAN IS VIRTUOUS. VIRTUOUS IS DEFINED AS ONE WHO IS MORALLY EXCELLENT.

A PROVERB MOTHER IS MORALLY EXCELLENT AND PURE. WHILE NOT PERFECT, SHE KEEPS HERSELF ABOVE REPROACH. SHE HAS HIGH MORAL STANDARDS AND LIVES BY BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES. SHE "PRACTICES WHAT SHE PREACHES." THE FIRST CHARACTERISTIC IS PURITY.

THE SECOND CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING TRUSTWORTHY. VERSE 11, SAYS THAT A GODLY MOTHER DOES HER BEST TO MAINTAIN THE FAITH AND TRUST OF HER FAMILY.

THIS CHARACTERISTIC LEAVES NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER OF HER COMMITMENT TO HER HUSBAND AND FAMILY. THIS IS A MOM WHO GUARDS THE PRIVACY OF HER FAMILY.

THIS IS A MOM WHOSE ACTIONS AND WORDS MATCH AT ALL TIMES. THE SECOND CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROVERBS MOTHER IS HER TRUSTWORTHINESS.

THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING COMMITTED. VERSE 12, SAYS THAT SHE LOOKS OUT FOR HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN. SHE DOES NOT ACT OUT OF HER OWN SELFISH AMBITION, BUT DOES THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HER FAMILY.

EVEN IF CIRCUMSTANCES FORCE HER TO WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME FOR FINANCIAL REASONS, THIS MOM REALIZES THAT HER FIRST PRIORITY IS WAITING FOR HER AT HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY! THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING COMMITTED.

THE FOURTH CHARACTERISTIC IS BEING DILIGENT. VERSES 13-16, TELLS US THAT A GODLY MOTHER SEES WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR HER FAMILY AND DOES IT!

THIS INVOLVES JUST ABOUT EVERY FACET OF BEING A GODLY MOTHER. WHETHER SHE IS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM OR WORKING A FULL-TIME JOB, SHE ENJOYS HER WORK.